The Jackson City Council voted to allow Uber to operate in Jackson under light regulation. The motion passed on a 3-1 vote. Councilmen Ashby Foote, Melvin Priester, Jr., and Tyrone Hendrix voted for the measure while DeKeither Stamps voted against it. The cabbies showed up to protest against Uber while WLBT gave them a full hearing and completely slanted its coverage against Uber. Watch the video below:
Level playing field? If the reporter had bothered to read the ordinance, she might have discovered that the playing field is indeed uneven because it is slanted towards the cabbies. Since the reporter couldn't do any actual research and just lapped up everything Tyra Dean said, here are sections of the taxicab ordinance:
*Transportation permit and review committee (committee): A committee comprised of the following city personnel and transportation service industry representatives: two representatives from the department of planning and Development, with one serving as chairperson, one representative from the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority; two representatives from the police department; and, two representatives from the transportation service industry (one from taxicab companies and one from limousine companies, with no one company serving a consecutive year). One representative from the legal department, shall serve on the committee in an advisory capacity. (5 members) (Tyra and friends gets to approve their competitors)
*(13) Taxicab companies shall maintain at least eight vehicles for hire under their company name for which a CPNC license has been issued, or the number of vehicles operated by the company as of the effective date of these articles, if less than eight. (Talk about a barrier to entry. Working stiff can't save up money to buy his own cab and operate. He has to buy EIGHT cabs!!! Got to be a One-percenter to get a cab license in Jackson.).
*A taxicab company shall keep its office staffed 24 hours a day with at least one person for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching taxicabs. (So much for a driver using his cellphone to take calls and schedule rides on his phone's calender.)
*(a) The following fares shall be charged by taxicabs. The maximum fare shall not exceed $3.00 for the first one-tenth mile or fraction thereof and $3.00 for each additional mile thereafter. (Price-fixing but we should be grateful that the cabbies can't charge more money.)
Tyra Dean naturally wants to preserve this structure. Technology has rendered her and her fellow conspirators obsolete. However, Ms. Dean can whine all she wants but the truth is she has been the one not playing fair for quite some time as the laws are written to favor her.
The Jackson City Council will be revising the taxicab ordinances themselves in several weeks. Mr. Priester circulated a draft of the proposed revisions last night to his colleagues.
Kingfish note: What should the city do about the taxicab ordinance? Abolish it. Ridgeland, Madison, Brandon, Pearl, Clinton, and Flowood don't license taxicabs. Doing so will save Ms. Dean money and allow she and her friends to better adapt to the marketplace. Of course, it might force them to have to actually take more responsibility and compete.
If Jackson must have a taxicab ordinance, then it should abolish the minimum cab requirement as well as the being available 24 hours a day rule as well. The fee schedules should be abolished. Price controls have given Jackson the usual result: limited supply and poor service. Its time Jackson entered the 21st century.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Uber is now legit
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15 comments:
Crazy that there is even discussion about this. I have lived here for many years, don't think i've ever called a cab. I've used Uber three times in the last month. The residents should have a choice.
If this had been voted down due to Barrett-Simon's absence she should face recall. Of all wards not to be represented at this meeting. Geez
thumbs up to Priester for pushing this through.
Hmmmm.......seems to be a Council person or two missing from the voting group.
In my opinion, Uber in the metro area is GREATLY decreasing drinking and driving. Rather than people saying "I'll just have one or two and drive home," people are just calling Uber and eliminating the issue entirely, which benefits everyone (except for the cabbies.)
$500 per UBER driver fee is tolerable I suppose.
The $5,000 fee to UBER is interesting...not sure what that is supposed to cover.
The UBER effect is interesting...watch nurses and cops and teachers quit their jobs to do nothing buy UBER folks around.
It is possible (in busy markets like NOLA) to earn as much as $3,000 per week if you work hard enough. That may not be the case here...but it will be fun to watch all the little cars pop up on the app.
Where was Stokes? Throwing rocks, bricks, and sticks at Uber drivers???
Seems like more rather than light regulation, Kingfish.
People of Jackson - 0
Polished Turd - 1
Here in Dallas, Uber has changed the way we live. It's never more than 5 minutes away, you can watch them on the app come to you after you've called them, you know who the driver is before he gets there and you can even turn him down if you don't like his rating, it's a fraction of the cost of a cab, the car is clean and the driver courteous, money never changes hands, you get a receipt showing your route and fare, and they are a responsible company who cover their drivers' accidents. It makes absolutely no sense to drive even after one drink if the ride home costs $5. It has shown how outdated and unresponsive the cabs and their drivers really are.
11:12, I think these are the regulations that Uber negotiated and they are in line with other agreements.
Is Stokes still on the city council? Don't people in his ward call cabs for transportation? Wait, I withdraw the question.
WLBT? Isn't that the station with the news anchors who frequently can't even read off a teleprompter?
The cra cra cabbie certainly calmed down from his rant during the city council meeting where he threatened the members.
Where was Stokes? Throwing rocks, bricks, and sticks at Uber drivers???
Only shows up for his paycheck........and glazed donuts.
I thought the leadership in Jackson was all about progress. Well, taxi-cabs are history now that Uber has entered the equation. And THAT is progress! Jackson's city council will surely celebrate this progress.
Does Council want to please four or five old crotchety cab company operators or thousands of traveling members of the public plus no telling how many visitors to the city?
Is Uber allowed to pickup/drop off at the airport here?
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